Calcium citrate supplements have benefits of their own and in some cases they are better than calcium carbonate supplements. However, a great majority of calcium tablets available on the market are products made of calcium carbonate, especially coral calcium which comes under this category and is gaining widespread popularity nowadays.
Choosing the right calcium supplement depends on your age and recommended dietary allowance. Calcium citrate is an acidic form of calcium, and therefore it has a better absorption rate. However, calcium citrate supplements normally provide much less amounts of calcium when measured in milligrams than other kinds of calcium compounds. Since calcium is used to reduce acidity in the stomach, people who are already suffering from an acidic stomach should avoid calcium citrate at all costs.
Mineral Supplement
Calcium carbonate, on the other hand, is ideal to be taken after meals since it reduces acidity and helps in proper digestion of food. When measured in milligrams, capsules or tablets containing calcium carbonate provide more elementary calcium than calcium citrate supplements. If you think your everyday diet is not sufficient to fulfill calcium RDA then you should buy calcium carbonate supplements easily available for purchase.
High levels of calcium in the blood are just as much dangerous as low levels. Therefore, don't consume more than 2000 mg of calcium daily, either through food or through supplements. A good alternative to calcium citrate supplements is provided by tablets made from coral calcium. This kind of calcium is better absorbed than normal calcium carbonate and can be taken with other vitamin and mineral supplements.
The amount of calcium absorbed by the blood depends on many other factors including age, level of vitamin D in the blood and pregnancy. Caffeine, alcohol and a protein-rich diet can reduce calcium absorption. Similarly, sodium is responsible for calcium loss through urine.
If you intake calcium citrate supplements, you have to take more tablets to receive the same amount of calcium as you would receive from a coral calcium tablet. Fortified-orange juice and cereals make use of calcium citrate to increase their nutritional value. Calcium absorption is also affected by the time at which you consume the tablets. Normally, it is recommended to take calcium pills right after meals. And it is also useful to go for a walk after a meal or exercise on a regular basis if you want to reduce calcium loss.